The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-06-10

Some "reminiscences of a Brilliant Life
Wrecked in the Sea of Corrupt Politics.
Chicago Herald.
Franklin J. Moses will shortly emerge from
the Massachusetts peniten tiary, agreeably to the
pardon of Governor Ames, but his deliverance
will be but brief, for he escapes the prison cell
only to enter the tomb. He is not old man,
but the excuses of earlier years have already
set period to his life. There will not be many
mourners at his tomb. Few will regret the
death of a man who began life with a wealth of
opportunity, equaled only by the wreckless dis
regard with which it was souandered together
with character, friends and honor. Less than
thirty years ago Moses. then a boy of eighteen.
had already tasted the full allotment of whole-
some pleasure His father was a lawyer planter
of wealth and high social position, whose family
seat was at Sumter, S. C. Every house in that
aristocratlc neigh orhood was open to him; from
of the richest he chose for his wife, the fair
est, and, as events since proved, the best of
Southern bellies.
When Governor Pickens was elected chief
executive of South Carolina ne paid political
debt to the elder Moses by appointing Frank his
private secretary. The youth here found his
natural element He quick, magnetic,
polite, forceful In his new position be speed
lily became power throughout the whole State
Here he was when Sumter fell, and Of all the
hotheaded youth of the South young Moses was
the loudest in his exultation over this event.
He rushed-not to the front-but. as a conscrpt
officer, enforcing the draft against his former
friends. Thus he lost all the popularity he had
enjoyed in the South. The people who had
loved and admired him hated him now. and
upon him with all the maignity of resentmen t
His creditors denounced him-but in vain, for
he was pauper.
A pauper, but not daunted or without re-
source. Straightway Moses in the Union
camp drawing federal rations for his family
selling some Of them it is even said to his moro
cred his nest and grew in favor until he
made associate judge of the Sumter district
Here began his Infamous career of spoil. His
father was called to practice before him, and the
two hawked and peddled the honor of the court
on equal shares. The younger Moses addressed
himself to the Cancellation of the negroes,
he stood in a position to command the new
SURFACES. AT the South Carolina Republican
convention, in 1867. he so adroitly handled his
new forces that he at once jumped to the posi-
ton of leader of hs party in the State
Upon his own suggestion he was
elected Adiu:ant inspector, general and
this point his advancement was very rapid, both
in power and the profuseness of his corruption.
He had absolute power 10 block or promote leg
isatiou, and in selling that power he had
shame. Anything that is worth possessing is
worth paying for-that was bis motto. He
throw C f all reserve and proclaimed that the
machine must be oiled, else it would bring forth
no grist.
Great sums thus came to his hand. but they
never mounted to his needs, for he was extrava-
CANT and wasteful to the last degree. He secured
the passage of law that gave HIM power to
issue what were called "pay certificates" or
Speakers warrants on the State treasury, which
Using the power thus conferred. he poured the
States money forth upon his favorres, scarcely
caring to conceal the La:ure of his conduct. 1t is
estimated that nearly 81, 900, 900 was expended
in this thriving fashion. In December 1872,
Moses elected Governor. This advance
ment was only signal for increased boldness
in his lraid on the public treasure and
spending increase in the manner of his living.
He signed no bill without satisfactory quid
pro quo. 1t is on record that he once refused
to order the payment of q valid claim for
800, 900 until $4,000 of the amount paid
to him. He bought the Preston mansion, finest
in the South, and spent 5000, 900 in improving il.
He filled his stable with fast horses, and his
homo with every mark of magnifcence. Mean
while his tastes cd him into the vilest company.
To maintain his hold on the coIored he par
doned every negro in the State penitentiary
He bought yspaper and attempted to pay
for it with money feloniously wrested from the
State treasury. In this he escaped arrest only
by surrounding himself by the State militia, and
thus overawing the sheriff
With the expiration of his term Of guber
material office, in 1874, came the beginning of
Moses downfall. His friends fell away as his
power of aiding them disappeared. He retired
from Office worth less than $780, For number
of years thereafter he vainly besieged the State
for various Offices, but his light was out. He
went North; he returned again after the death
of his father, and begged of his friends another
chance. His mother sold a small piece of prop
erty for a few hundred dollars. and gave him the
proceeds upon his promise that he would go at
once to Texas and start anew He went but
only after he was gone was it discovered that he
had taken with MIN his mothers few remaining
jewels and trinkets. For this he traced to
New York and arrested, but shortly afterward
released. His wife procured divorce, and he
became a vanderer the face of the earth.
Many a Northern prison door has shut upon him
since, for his crimes grew worse as his exigen-
cies increased OF what was good in him at the
start-and there was much-he never regained
a whit; the evil of his character expanded and
asserted the mastery.
Masonic Lodge Expelled.